Signal



' F. -T. VANATTA I SIGNAL Original Filed March 15 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 1WITNESSES: TIL

INVENTOR.

BY H15 ATTORNEY.

July 22 1924.

F. T. VANATTA SIGNAL Original Filed March is, s Sheets-Sheet 2 6 1:.ATIDRNEY.

July 22 1924.

e, 15,879 F. T. VANATTA SIGNAL Original Filed March 15,

1916 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

BY Q' C M ATTORNEY.

, ling-apparatus andicircuits for the si 5 rows. Fig. 6 is" ReissuedJuly 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES FRANK '1. VANATTA, OF MILL SWITCH. & SIGNAL COMPANY,PENNSYLVANIA.

. Original No. 1,255,959, dated To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK T. VANATTA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mill Valle in the county of Marin and State of alifornia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals, of,

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signals, and particularly to signals for use atrade crossings of railways and highways or the purpose of warningestrians and occupants of vehicles traveling on the highway of the aproach of trains.

ne object of my invention is the provision of a signal of this characterwhich comprises a warning member, such as a semaphore, biased to occupyone position, which semaphore is held in another position when no trainis approaching and the signal and controlling apparatus are in properworking condition, and which semaphore is caused to oscillate or wag to've a warnin indication upon the approac of a train. T e si al willtherefore give one warning indication when a train is approachin and allparts are in proper operative condition, and another and distinctivewarning indication when any part of the signal or its controlling lessof whether or not a train is approac ing.

I will describe one form of signal embodying my invention, and will thenpoint out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view showing. in frontelevation one form of signal embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an endview of the devices which are mounted on the free end of the arm 3 inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmental view showing the ran of movement of thewarning member itse f while the said member is giving the warningindication due to the approach of a train. elevation, partly ingrammatic, showing also one form and arran section and partly diament ofcontrol- Fi 5 is a sectional view on the'lin'e' .of ig'. 4 looking inthe direction of the ara sectional view on the 'line VI VI of Fig. 4looking in'the" direction VALLEY, or SWISSVALE; PENNSYLVANIA, aooarom'rIoN or or mast 1 carries an arm apparatus-is out of orderreglardv *Tl'llS semaphore 1S referred to more Fig. 4 is a view partlyin the mechanism M and clam PATENT OFFICE. I

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB To run uNIo SIGNAL.-

February 12, 1918, Serial No. 54,332, flled larch vv15, 1916.Application for reissue filed April 20, 1918. Serial No. 229,868.

of the arrows. the line VII-VIIof Fig. 4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows."

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theseveral views.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on Referring first to Fig. 1, the signal inthe form here shown comprises a post or mast 1 mounted on a base oroun'dation 2 located at the side of the highway near the crossing of thehighway and the railway. This post 3 which pro]ects across the highwayso that the warning devices mounted on end are located over dle of thehighway where they can be plain- 1y seen by pedestrians 0r occu ants ofvehicles using the highway.

Attached to the arm 3 near its outer end is a depending forked bracket 4(see Figs. 1 and 2) ing bearings in which a shaft 5 is mounted tooscillate. This shaft carries a pendulumlike device comprising asemaphore 7 and radial rods 6 which are rigidly attached to the shaft 5.The semaphore 7 constitutes the warning device of the signal, that is,the device which by its position or movement indicates to a traveler onthe highway whether or not it is safe to cross the railwa track.

broadly hereinafter in the claims as a member mounted to oscillate.preferably has a the word stop, cated in Fig. 1, such legend generally"appearing on both sides of the semaphore, and. the semaphore alsopreferably carries one warning legend, such as this arm near its outersubstantially the mid- The semaphore 7 inscribed thereon as indi-' thetwo arms of the fork constitutor more electric lamps 8 for giving a warning at night. The arm 3 so located as to obscure the semaphore when thelatter is in the position indicating turn support the shield 70. I Clampmember 72 is provided with similar flanges to-gvhich are attached arms73 and which in turn support the shield 70. A further support 9o carries'two shields-7O and 70 I w for the shields is provided in the form of asecondclamp 7 4-7 4 which carries an arm 75. The upper end of this armis attached-to a U-shaped strap 76, and the legs of this strap aresecured to the. two shields 70 and 70. The two shields are so locatedthat the semaphore 7 passes between them.

The semaphore 7 is controlled by a flexible connector 9, preferably awire one end of which terminates in a short le gth of chain 9* whichpasses over and is attached to a grooved wheel idly attached to theshaft 5. As here shown, the radial rods 6 which carry the semaphore aremounted in wheel 10. It will be seen that by pulling the connecting wire9 to the right as viewed 'in Fig. 1, the semaphore 7 will be drawn awayfrom the vertical position to which it is biased by gravity.

The other end of the wire terminates in a chain 9" which passes over andisattached to a grooved wheel 13 operated in a mannerhereinafterdescribed. Interposed in n the connection between the wire 9 andthechain 9 is a spring 9 the function of which is to absorb shocks ashereinafter explained. The chain 9 is provided with trunnions 12projecting from opposite sides thereof and adapted to be engaged by aforked jaw 11 which is fixed to a shaft 11 and is oscillated about thisshaft as a center at times as*will hereinafter appear. The wheel 13 andthe jaw 11 are actuated in the desired manner by means of an operatingmechanism which I will describe hereinafter.

. thereon,

' phore 7 jaw 11 is caused to oscillate. This mg on the trunnions 12,will exert The operation of the signal as thus set forth is as follows:When the semaphore 7 is not acted upon by any force other than gravity,it hangs in the vertical osition, which is the posltion in which it is sown in full lines in Fig. 1. If while in this position, the wheel 13 isturned in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon, the semaphore 7will be swung in opposition to the force of gravity into a position suchas that indi-' cated in dash lines in Fig. 1, wherein it is obscuredbythe shields and 70. This is .what 1' W111 term the proceed position,that is, the position in which the signal indicates-that no train isapproaching and that therefore atraveler on the hi hway may proceedacross the railway 'trac in safety. As the wheel 13 turns to wind thechain 9" the trunnions 12 fit into recesses 13 cut into the-rims of thewheelso that the chain is not raised out of the groove in this wheel.Assume now that when the. semais in the upper or proceed. posi-' wheel13 is released and the forked jaw, actlntermittent pulls to the right onwire 9 and so will cause the semaphore 7 to oscillate through a suitableangle on opposite sides of its verti-,

tion, the

10, which wheel is riga hub integral with theare an electric motor E andwinding 26.]

cahposition; the limitsof this oscillation may. be as indicated by thefull and the dash lines in Fig. 3. This oscillation of the semaphoreconstitutes what I will term the stop or danger" indication, that is, itconveys to a traveleron the highway the information that a train isapproaching and that it is therefore dangerous to cross the track. Theperiod of oscillation of the jaw 11 is preferably the same as thenatural period of oscillation of the semaphore 7.

Referring now to Figs. 4,- 5, 6 and 7, I will explain the structure andoperation of the mechanism M by means of which the desired operations ofthe wheel 13 and the jaw 11 are accomplished. I

The mechanism comprises an lnclosing casing andframework 14 in which isjournaled a shaft 13 to which the wheel 13 is rigidly attached. At'theinner end of this shaft, and rigidly attached thereto is a seg'-- mentalgear 15 which'meshes with a pinion 16 freely mounted on a shaft 17 whichalso is journaled in the framework 14. This pin ion 16 is operativelyconnected at times, through a d rectional clutch as will be hereirlafterexplained, with a gear 18 also mounted to rotate freely on the shaft17.- Meshing with the gear 18 is a pinion 19 I which is integral withagear 20 and'both of which are mounted to rotate freely onthe shaft 13".-Thege'ar20 meshes with a pinion 21 which is rigidly attached to theshaft 17.

Operatively connected with the shaft 17 a holding device H, both ofwhich'are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 for the sake of simplicity.-' The motor E may be of any desired type; as here shown it is atwo phase induction motor comprising a rotor 23 attached to shaft 17 andtwo stator windings 24 and 24." The holding deviceH maybe of any desiredtype, and as here shown it is similar to the device disclosed in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 1170360, granted to John D. Taylor on February1, 1916; this device comprises a rotor member 25 operatively connectedwith the shaft 17, and an'energizing It is understood, however, that anydesired type of holding device may be employed, the essential thingbeing that when this device is energized it shall resist the torqueexerted on the shaft 17 by the warning semaphore '7 when the latteroccupies the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Fig; 1,and that when the device is de-energized it shall permit free rotationof the shaft 17 The angle of oscillation of the wheel 13 is limited by astop device as shown'in Fig.

This device comprises a member 28 fixed to shaft 13 and provided withtwo wings adapted to engage a. shoulder 27 formed on a block 27 t Thisblock is mounted to slide 130 is a circuit controller C comprising tworoin suitable guides formed in the casing 14,

and its downward movement is limited by a screw 29. The upward movementof this block is limited by another screw'3O between which and the blockis a shock-absorbing spring 31.

The forked jaw 11 is fixed to a shaft 11 as hereinbefore stated," andthis shaft is mounted to oscillate in suitable'bearings in the frame 14asvshown in Fig. 4. Fixed to this shaft at its inner end is a crank arm32 (see Fig. 5) in which is journaled a roller 32' which coacts with acam 22 attached to the face of the gear 18 and shaped substantially asshown in Fig. 5. Rotation of this cam therefore causes oscillation ofthe jaw 11 which in turn causes oscillation of the semaphore 7 as'hereinbefore described.

It has already been pointed-out that the gear 18 and the pinion 16 areconnected by. means of a directional clutch. Referring to Figs. 4 and 6,this clutch as here shown is of the ball type, comprising a circulardisk 33 integral with the pinion 16, which disk is located in acylindrical recess 34 in the cam 22. The surface of the disk 33 isprovided with triangular notches 37 in which are located balls 35, andthese balls are pushed intowedging position by springs 36 in the usualand well known manner. It will be seen therefore that when the cam 22 isrotated in the direction of the arrow a in-Fig. 6 the clutch isoperative to drive the pinion 16 and the wheel 13 is then turned in such.direction as .to raise the banner 7 to the dash line position in Fig.1; but when the cam 22 is rotated in the oppositedirection the clutchbecomes inoperative so that no torque is transmitted to the wheel 13.v

Operatively connected with the shaft-13 tatable contact segments 40 and41 co-operating with filxed contact fingers as shown in Fig. 4. Thesecontact segments are attached to a shaft 42 to which is fixed a gear 39,and this gear meshes with another gear 38attached to the end of shaft13".

In Fig. 4 I have shown a portion of a railwaytrack R over which trafiicmoves in the direction of the arrow, and crossin this track at grade isa highway or street A portion of the track to the right of the highwaycrossing is divided into an insulated track section by insulated joints44, and the rails-of this seotion'form part of a track circuit whichcomprises also a battery 43 connected acrossthe' rails near one end ofthe section and a track relay T connected across the rails near theother end ofthe section.

The motor E and holding device H are 0 erated by alternating currentfrom a suita le source which as here shown is a transformer 46, and thesupply of'curren't to-thesc devices is controlled by the track relay Tand the circuit controller C. I have also shown a hand switch 47 .fordisconnecting the transformer from the signal when desection remainsunoccupied and hand switch 47 is closed, the windings of motor E willbecome energized; the circuit for winding 24' is from secondary oftransformer 46 through wire 48, contact segment 41, reactance 49, wire50, winding 24, wire 51, wire 52 to transformer 46; the circuit forwinding 24 is from secondary of transformer 46 through wire 48, segment41, wire 53, upper point of relay-contact 54, wire 55, winding 24, wire56, upper point of relay contact 57 to transformer 46. The currents inthe two windings of motor E are displaced in phase by the reactancc 49,and the phases in these two windings are in such relation as to causethe motor todrive the gear 18 (through the medium of gears 21, 20'and19) in the direction indicated by the arrow (1- in Fig. 6. The clutch isthen operative to connect gear 18 and. pinion 16, so that wheel 13is'turned in such direction as to draw the semaphore 7 to the right asviewed in Fig. 1.. Vhen the semaphore reaches substantially the dashline osition shown in Fig. 1, both motor winding circuits are opened bycontact segment 41, and the circuit for the winding 26 of the holdingdevice H is closed by segment 40. This latter circuit is from thesecondary [of transformer 46 through upper point of relay contact 58,wire 59, winding 26, wire' 60, contact segment 40, and wire'52 to thetransformer. The motor E therefore becomes deenergized, and the holdingdevice H is energized to retain the semaphore in the upper or proceedposition. The mechanical stop 28 prevents overrunning this position.While the semaphore is being drawn "to the proceed position, the cam 22is of course rotating. This does not, however, cause oscillation of thejaw 11; the jaw will merely be moved to its extreme right hand positionas viewed in Fig. "1 and will remain there, there. being no force tocause it to return as the cam recedes from its follower 32. Oscillationof the jaw during this movement of the semaphore would do no harm,however, because soon after the semthe track-circuit section, causingrelay T to open. The opening of the upper point of relay contact 58opens the circuit for the holding device H so that the semaphore beginsto fall by gravity, thus causing rotation of wheel 13 and the entiretrain of gears in the direction opposite to that in which these partsmoved while driving the signal to the. proceed position. very slightmovement of the parts is sufficient to close contact 41, whereupon themotor E again becomes energized. The circuit for the motor winding 24 isthe same as before, but the circuit for winding 24 is now from the lowertransformer secondary terminal through wire 48, contact 41, wire 53,lower point of relay contact 54, wire 56, winding 24, wire 55, wire 55,lower point of relay contact 57 to the upper terminal of the transformersecondary. The connection of winding 24 with the transformer secondaryis thus reversed,hence the direction of rotation of motor E is reversed.Gear 18 now rotates in the opposite direction and-therefore does notdrive pinion 16. As soon as the semaphore falls to such point that thetrunnions 12 engage the jaw 11 this jaw begins to exert periodic pullson wire 9, and the semaphore is then caused to oscillate or wag throughsubstantially the angle indicated in Fig. 3, thus giving the danger'orstop, in dication. As soon as the entire train has passed the highway S,relay T becomes en ergized and the direction of rotation of the motor isreversed, thus causing the semaphore 7 to be again swung to and held inits proceed position.

Attached to the shaft 5 (Fig. 2) are two contact rings 61 (see also Fig.4) to which the lamps 8 are electrically connected; and bearing on theserings are two fixed brushes, one of which is connected directly to theup per transformer secondary terminal and the other of which isconnected with the lower secondary terminal through the lower point ofrelay contact 58.' Hence as long as the track relay T is energized thelamps 8 are extinguished, but when a train approaches and causesde-energization of the relayso that the banner 7 is caused to oscillate,the lamps become illuminated.

, It will be observed that in case of failure or breakage of any part ofthe mechanism between the wheel 10 and the holding device H, thesemaphore 7 will fallto the vertical position, thus indicating to atraveler on the highway that the signal is out of order and that, hemust rely entirely on his own senses to cross the railway in safety. Thesame result follows in case of failure of the source of currentsupplyfor the signal.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of signalembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A railway crossing signal comprising a pendulum-like warning membermounted to oscillate, electromagnetic means for causing said member toswing to and fro continuously, and electromagnetic means for bold ingsaid member in an inclined position.

2. A railway crossing signal comprising a a pendulum-like warning membermounted to oscillate, electromagnetic means for causing said member toswing to and fro continuously to indicate danger, and electromagneticmeans for holding said member in an inclined position to indicatesafety.

3. A railway crossing signal comprising a pendulum-like warning membermounted to oscillate, electromagnetic means adapted when energized tocause said member to swing to and fro continuously, and otherelectromagnetic means adapted when energized to hold said'member inan'inclined position.

4. A signal comprising a warning member mounted to oscillate and biasedto one indicating position, an electric motor, means operated by saidmotor during rotation in one direction for moving said member againstits biasing force to another indicating position, and means operated bysaid motor during rotation in the other direction for causingoscillation of said member;

5. A-railway crossing signal comprising a pendulum-like warning' membermounted to oscillate, means for causing continuous swinging of saidmember, electromagnetic means for operating said first-mentioned means,and electro-magnetic means for holding said-member in an inclinedposition.

6. A railway crossing signal comprising a pendulum-like warning membermounted to oscillate, an electric motor having a member which rotateswhen the motor is energized, meansoperated by said motor member forcausing said warning member to swing to and fro continuously, andelectromagnetic means for holding said warning member in an inclinedposition.

7. A signal comprising a warning member mounted to oscillate and biasedto one indicating position, an actuating connector operatively connectedwith said member and adapted to swing the member away from its biasedposition,-means for exerting a steady force on said connector to movethe member to and hold in in another indicating position in oppositionto its bias, a trunnion fixed to said connector, a jaw mounted tooscillate in operative relation to said trunnion. and electrical meansfor operating said first mentioned means and for causing oscillation ofsaid jaw.

8. A railway crossing signal comprising a pendulum-like warning memberbiased to an in ermediate position wherein it gives a warningindication, means for causing continuous oscillation of said member togive an indication of danger, and means for holding said member in aninclined position wherein it gives a safety indication.

.9. A railwa crossing signal comprisinga warning mem er mounted tooscillate, electromagnetic means for causing said member to swing to andfro continuously to give a danger indication, and electromagnetic meansfor holding said member in a positionv to indicate safety.

10. A railwa crossing signal comprising a warning mem er mounted tooscillate, electroma etic means for causing said member to swing to andfro continuously to give a danger indication, and for moving saidmemberto a position indicating safety, and

electromagnetic means for holding said member in the safety position.

11. In a signal apparatus of the character set forth, the combinationwith a movable.

signal member, of a motor for operating it, a mechanism for. controllingthe actuation of the operating motor, and means for continuing t eoperation of the motor to move the signal member to and secure itsstoppage at a predetermined position after the controlling mechanism isoperated to stop the actuation of the operating'motor.

12. In a signal a paratus of the character set forth, the combinationwith a movable signal member, of a motor for operating it, and.mechanism for controlling the movement of the signal member, includingmeans for throwing the operating motor into and out of action, and meansfor continuing the action of the operating motor when the first of themeans iii inactive, to continue the movement lgnal by the motor to apredetermined position.

13. In a signal a paratusof the character set forth, the com mation witha movable signal member, of means for operating it, and mechamsm forcontrolllng the movement of the signal member by said means,

including means for throwing the operating means into and'out of action,and meanscontrolled by the signal operating means for continuing theaction of the operating-means when the first controlling means isinactive to continue the movement of the signal to a predeterminedposition and stopping the action of the operating means as soon assaidposition is reached.

14. In a signal apparatus of the character set forth, the combinationwith a'swingin signal member, of an electric motor for e fecting anautomatic continuous, swinging movement thereof, electrical means-foractu- 'ating the motor comprising two circuits that include said motor,means independent of trolling theoperation of the motor, includingseparate circuits includin the motor, and controlling devices for t eres ective circuits, one of which is actuated y the motor and the otherbeing capable of actuation independently of said motor.

16. In signal apparatus of the character set forth, the combination witha signal member movableto and from a predetermined inactive position, ofan'electric. motor for actuating the'same, a circuit including theelectric motor, a controller for said circuit independent of the motor,another circuit including the motor, a controller for the secondcircuit, and means actuated by said motor to operate the controller ofthe second circuit when the signal member approaches its saidpredetermined inactive osition.

17. A signal comprising a pen u-lum, electromagnetic means for causingsaid pendulum to swing to and fro continuously, means for retaining saidpendulum in substantially one extreme position of its stroke, and meansoperatively connected with said pendulum for de-energizing said swingingmeans be; fore the pendulum reaches the said extreme position.

18. A signal comprising a pendulum, electromagnetic means for causingsaid pendulum to swing to and 'fro continuously, and otherelectromagnetic means adapted when energized to, arrest said pend um andhold it in an inclined position.

19. A signal comprising a pendulum, electromagnetic means for causingsaid pendulum to swing to and fro continuously, means for retaining saidpendulum in an inclined position, and means operatively connected withsaid pendulum for de-energizing said swin ing means beforethe pendulumreaches t c said inclined osition.

20. A signal comprising a pendu um-like warning member, and electricallycontrolled means for causing said member to oscillate continuously togive one indication and for retaining said member in a given position togive a different indication.

21. A crossing signal comtprising a pendulum semaphore, a motor orcausing said vsemaphore to oscillate, a circuit for ener- 22. In arailway crosslng signaL-a swingthe motor for controlling one of thecircuits ing visible signal member; a source of elecmeans for causingsaid motor to operate said signal member; and means for moving saidsignal member into a position other than its normal'initial positionupon a failure of said source of electricity.

23. In a railway crossing signal, a swinging visible signal member; asource of electricity; a normally inoperative electric motor operated bycurrent from said source and operatively connected with said signalmember and adapted to swing the same a plurality of times; electricallyoperated means for closing a circuit in which said motor is included tothereby operate said signal member; and means for moving said signalmember into a position other than its normal initial position upon a.failure of said source of electricity.

24. In a railway crossing signal, a swinging visible signal member; asource of electricity; a normally inoperative electricmotor operated bycurrent from said source and operatively connected with said signalmember and adapted to swing the same a plurality of times; means forcontrolling the flow of electricity to said motor; and means wherebysaidsignal member is caused to move into a position other than itsnormal initial position upon a failure of said source of electricity.

25. In a railway crossing signal, a swinging visible signal member; anormally inoperative electric motor operatively con' nected with saidsignal member and adapted to swing the same a plurality of times; a maincircuit in which said motor is included and through which current issupplied thereto; an auxiliary circuit through which current may flow tosaid motor to thereby continuethe operation thereof after said maincircuiflhas been broken; circuit controlling means adapted to close saidmain circuit and open said auxiliary circuit, and to open said maincircuit and close said auxiliary circuit; a source of electricityadapted to supply current to saidcircuits; .means for operating saidcircuit controlling means; and means for automatically br eaking saidauxiliary circuit-when said signal member has been returned to itsinitial position.

26. In a railway crossing signal, a swinging visible signal member; anormally inoperative electric motor operatively connected with saidsignal member and adapted to swing the same a plurality of times; a maincircuit in which said motor is included and through which current issupplied thereto; an auxiliary circuit through which current may flow tosaid motor to thereby continue the operation thereof after said swingthe same a plurality of times; a

main circuit has beenv broken; circuit controlling means adapted tocontrol said main and auxiliary circuits; a source of electricity forsupplying current to said circuits; means for operating said circuitcontrolling means; and means for automatically breaking said auxiliarycircuit when said signal member has been returned to its initialposition.

27. In a railway crossing signal, a swing ing visible signal member; anormally inop erative electric motor operatively connected with saidsignal member and adapted to swing the same a plurality of, times; asource of electricity; a circuit in which said motor is included andthrough which current is supplied thereto; circuit controlling meansincluded in said circuit and adapted to make and'break the same;electrically op erated means for operating said circuit controllingmeans; and electromagnetic means energized by current derived from saidsource for holding said signal member in its normal initial position.

28. In a railway crossing signal, a swinging visible signal member soarranged that it may be moved by gravity when it is in its normalinitial position; a normally inoperative electric motor operativelyconnected with said signal member and adapted to swing the same aplurality of times; a source of electricity; a circuit in which saidmotor is included and through which current is supplied thereto; circuitcontrolling means included in said circuit and adapted to make and breakthe same; electrically operated means for operating said circuitcontrolling means; andcelectromagnetic means energized by currentderived from said source. for holding said signal member in its normalinitial position.

29. In a railway crossing signal, a swing ing visible signal member soarranged that it may be moved by gravity when it is in its normalinitial position; a normally inopT erative electric motor operativelyconnected with said signal member and adapted to source of electricity;a circuit in which said motor is included and through which current issupplied thereto; circuit controlling means included in said circuit andadapted to make and break the same; electrically operated means foroperating said circuit controlling means; means whereby said signalmember is hidden from view when in its normal initial position; andelectromagnetic. means energized by current derived from said source forholding said signal member in its normal initial position.

30. In a railway crossing signal, a swing ing visible signal member soarranged-that it may be moved by gravity when it is in its normalinitial position; a normally inoperative electric motor operatively con-"operative" electric motor 'nected with-said signal mem er and adapt--nected with said signal member and adapt ed to swing the same aplurality of times; a main circuit in which said motor is 1ncluded andthrough which current is supplied thereto; an auxiliary circuit throughwhich current may flow to said motor to thereby continue the operationthereof after said main circuit has been broken; cir-. cuit controllingmeans adapted to-close said main circuit and open said auxilia circuit,and to open said main circuit an close said auxiliary circuit; a sourceof electricity adapted to supply current to said circuits; means foroperating said circuit controlling means; means for automaticallybreakin said auxiliary circuit when said signa member has been restoredto its initial position; and electromagnetic means enerb current derivedfrom said source or be] ing said signal member in its normal initialposition.

31. In a railway crossing signal, a swinging visible signal member soarranged that it may be moved by gravity when it is in its normalinitial posltion; means whereby said.

signal member is hidden from view when in its normal initial position; anormally inratively coned to swing,the same a plurality of times; a maincircuit in which said motor is included and through which current issupplied thereto; an auxiliary circuit through which current may flow tosaid motor to. thereby continue the operation thereof after said mamcircuit has been broken; circuit controlling means adapted to close saidmain circuit and open said auxiliary circuit,' and to open said maincircuit and c ose said auxiliary circuit; a source of electricityadapted to supply current to said circuits; means for operating saidcircuit controlling means;

means for automaticall breaking said auxiliary circuit when sai signalmember has been restored to its initial position; and electroma eticmeans ener ized b current derived rom' said source r holding said signalmember in its normal initial position.

32. A railway crossing signal comprisin a pendulum-like warning membermounte to oscillate, electromagnetic means for causing said: member toswing to and fro continuously, electromagnetic means for hold-" 1.1gsaid member in an inclined position, and

- swin means in inclined position.

34-. A railway crossing signal comprisin a pendulum-like warning membermounte' to oscillate, means for causing continuous of said member,electromagnetic or operating said first-mentioned means, electromagneticmeans for holdin said member in an inclined position, an means forobscuring said member when in inclined position.

35. A railway crossing signal comprising a pendulum-like warning member,mounted to oscillate, an electric motor having a member which rotateswhen the motor is ener Eeized means operated by said motor memr forcausing said warning member to swing to and fro continuously,electromagnetic means for holding said warning-member in an inclinedosition, and means for obscuring said mem r when in inclined po. sition.p

36. A railway crossing s'i a member biased to one position,

al comprising indicating a defect; means for continuously oscillatingthe member, indicating danger, and

means for moving the member to and hold- -In testimon whereof I-aflix mysignature in presence 0 two witnesses.

FRANK T. VANATTA. Witnesses PAUL HELMORE, J. B. STRUBLE.

